The Sixers, 8-35, probably just lost their leading scorer for the rest of the 2015 season. The team announced Friday that guard Tony Wroten has a torn ACL and is out indefinitely, which probably means he’s done for the year. Wroten was averaging 16.9 ppg.

Sixers guard Tony Wroten has a partially torn ACL in his right knee and is out indefinitely.

Wroten, who will undergo surgery, suffered the injury on Jan. 13 against Atlanta. He has missed the last five games and recently saw a knee specialist in California. The team announced the diagnosis Friday night before its game against the Toronto Raptors.

“It is disappointing news,” Brett Brown said. “We have to help him stay active in his mind, and physically ready. We have had a lot of practice with injured players. He will reap the benefits of the things we have learned.”

Brown did not have a timeline for when Wroten will have surgery or how long his recovery will be.

In 30 games this season, the 21-year-old Wroten is averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game to go with 5.2 assists but is shooting only 40.3 percent from the field, including 26.1 percent from three. Recently he’s been the subject of trade discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers.

“We are not apologetic with this win at all,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. “I think it is unfair when you start weighing up [resumes] … If we are about to compare resumes and years of experience and those types of things, accolades, have a look at my group: Young guys that don’t know what they don’t know and just came out and played. I’m proud of our team.”

Wroten finished with a team-high 20 points and eight assists. The backup point guard scored nine of the Sixers’ final 13 points.

He said the play on his go-ahead basket was drawn up for starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams. […] “Mike came to me at the last minute and switched it up a little bit,” Wroten said. “That’s the kind of pressure I want. I missed the free throw before that. So it was in the back of my mind. I can’t be the reason that we lose.”

The impact Tyson Chandler is having all over the court for the Dallas Mavericks really makes you wonder about what exactly went wrong in New York, because it is almost impossible to believe that a player could be so Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde without any explanation. For whatever reason (reasons), the Knicks situation was toxic, and there’s no getting around it. Leaving the Big Apple has rejuvenated Chandler, who is eclipsing or approaching a career high statistical output across the board, with a stat line of 11.3 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on nearly 70 percent from the field in under 30 minutes per contest. The biggest question lingering on the minds of Chandler’s fantasy owners is whether or not he can keep up his currently outstanding pace. In most formats, he has been a top-25 player thus far.

Chandler is simply a perfect fit in the current Dallas lineup. This being said, he is the definition of a sell-high player at the moment. His value will not get any higher, and owners should be looking to trade him as soon as possible, because the haul that he can currently bring in on the trade market is almost certain to perform better statistically from this point forward. Fantasy basketball is a numbers game after all. Maximizing the overall statistical production of your fantasy lineup is accomplished by reading the tea leaves (or attempting to) and analyzing what kind of performance can be expected moving forward from each individual on your squad. Think about this: Chandler is currently approaching his career high of 12.4 rebounds per game, which he achieved in a full load of over 34 minutes per game with the New Orleans Hornets seven (7!) years ago. If coach Rick Carlisle didn’t trust his bench, it’s reasonable to think that Chandler would be averaging a career high in rebounding (in addition to the scoring and field goal percentage) given equal minutes.

This isn’t to say that Chandler is a fluke—he will continue to be a force for the Mavs. In fact, if you decide to keep him, I wouldn’t go so far as to guarantee that he will be a disappointment from here on out. Will he be a top fantasy performer, though? One major issue is that he hasn’t ever put up equal numbers per minute across the board; he is producing as efficient of a season statistically as he ever has in all categories. Expecting him to keep this up wouldn’t even be fair. Also, given his injury history dating all the way back to his final season with the New Orleans Hornets in 2008 when he only played 45 games, it would be hard to expect Chandler to play 70 games or more.

Even if you want to blame the Knicks for Chandler’s decrease in recent production, you just can’t ignore the 32-year-old’s documented issues with staying on the court and the simple fact that he hasn’t been this good statistically across the board yet in his career. When it comes to the real world though, Dallas looks like they can again contend for a title with Chandler in the lineup. The Mavericks’ decision to bring him back was without a doubt one of the best moves in the entire NBA offseason. Somehow, despite only playing just over one full season with Dallas, it’s hard to picture Chandler in anything but a Mavs jersey.

The 76ers Watch

Well, the wait is over, and the Philadelphia 76ers have avoided an NBA record 18th straight loss to start the season, defeating a Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic free Minnesota Timberwolves squad (they’ll take it) to move to 1-17. Despite the dreadful record, believe it or not the Sixers do actually have players that you would want on your fantasy squad. One interesting development has been the Michael Carter-Williams and Tony Wroten court-share, which has been a battle for the ages—when it comes to fantasy output. First, Wroten benefited heavily early in the season while Carter-Williams continued to recover from his injury, and he was averaging over 20 points and 6 assists.

When Carter-Wiliams returned, Wroten was in possession of the ball a lot less, which immediately impacted his scoring. Now Wroten has missed the last week, and in the three games without him, MCW has looked like a top fantasy point guard for the first time since his rookie of the year campaign ended, averaging a triple-double during that span (20.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 10.7 apg, 1.3 spg). Coach Brett Brown needs to find a way to get these two young explosive players in sync, and fantasy owners everywhere would benefit. The Sixers don’t exactly have a lot of scoring, so there is no reason that both can’t put up big numbers if they can adapt to each other. If they can’t, it will be Wroten’s numbers that suffer long term.

Of increasing interest right now is rookie KJ McDaniels, who despite being drafted 32nd in this year’s Draft, has looked like he could be a top-five rookie performer by season’s end. He should be owned in all leagues at this point as the Sixers are certain to give him whatever minutes he can handle. He has played 30 or minutes in four straight games, which will be good for both his development and his stat lines. His scoring should increase from the current 10 ppg, to go along with impressive rebound, block and steal totals for a rookie small forward. Fellow rookie Nerlens Noel has been inconsistent all season, but has shown flashes at times (including a 17-point and 12-rebound performance). Keep in mind that he didn’t play organized basketball for well over a year, and that it will also take time for him to adjust to the NBA game. His blocks and rebounding numbers have nevertheless been disappointing, and while he should be owned for his potential in those categories, he belongs on fantasy benches at this point. He should still be a coveted commodity in all keeper leagues.

Quick Bits

Bulls rookie Nikola Mirotic looks like the real deal, but it’s hard to see him being impactful from a fantasy perspective yet, stuck in a deep frontcourt rotation that includes Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson, all much better defenders (Tom Thibodeau just smiled). Victor Oladipo‘s all-around game is starting to reach its potential after a slow start, including a recent 27-point outburst. DeMar DeRozan‘s injury has fantasy owners scrambling and while it is possible he returns in a month, it seems like he could be out longer than that, leaving Lou Williams and Greivis Vasquez as benefactors in the meantime. Dwight Howard‘s knee continues to be a concern for the Rockets, as it seems like the team wants him at 100 percent before he returns to the court. This plan worked well for Dwyane Wade, who looks to have returned to star form for the Heat after a hamstring injury. Ty Lawson also appears to have overcome his injury concerns, eclipsing top-10 point guard value and almost singlehandedly leading the Denver Nuggets back into the Western Conference playoff race.

Dan Hanna is SLAM’s weekly fantasy basketball columnist and a life-long Bulls fan. Follow him on Twitter @i_am_danhan. For advice on your fantasy team, post questions in the comments section.

Sixers veteran Jason Richardson, who has not played since January 2013 because of knee and foot injuries, laughed when he heard those comments. […] “A college team could not beat an NBA team,” Richardson said Wednesday before the game against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center. “It would not happen, especially with the experience the NBA players have.”

Richardson said he would make sure his teammates were aware of the comments. “It will definitely be on the bulletin board and I will definitely put it up,” he said.

As the fantasy basketball season revs into gear, November can prove to be the best time to improve your team, either by pursuing trades with fresh buy-low and sell-high candidates, or by gluing your eyes to your waiver wire and NBA box scores. If you intend to win your league this year, why stand pat with the team you drafted when other impatient owners can’t wait to get rid of their slow starter on a discount?

This isn’t to say that you should attempt an extreme roster makeover if you believe that everything went your way in the draft. If you believe in your team, stick with it. The two biggest mistakes fantasy basketball owners can make early in the season are falling in love with players exceeding expectations, or falling out of love with players failing to meet them, based on a bad box score or two. In both cases, there is a chance of progression or regression to the mean. Everything is magnified given a smaller sample size, and the owners who best decipher which players are a long-term solution will give themselves the best shot at a championship.

Times are Changing

Despite it being such a young season, we have already witnessed how destructive a new team structure can be to any player’s fantasy value. Who was bold enough to draft Kevin Love or Kyrie Irving high in the draft after witnessing the sacrifices made by Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami? The Cleveland Cavaliers’ big three is still gelling, and it’s hard to make any firm determinations about Irving’s or Love’s value this early. All we know so far is that Irving is somehow averaging fewer assists now despite playing with Love and LeBron James. And on the other hand, Bosh and Wade are making more of an impact for their fantasy owners than they have in quite some time.

Meanwhile in Milwaukee, John Henson is struggling to find the court, thanks to new coach Jason Kidd, who for some reason doesn’t see value in a 23-year-old who averaged 11 points, 7 boards and 1.7 blocks in just 26 minutes last season. While Kidd would rather give veteran Zaza Pachulia additional minutes, eventually Henson (or the front office) is going to force Kidd’s hand. As of now, it’s probably hard to keep Henson on your roster, but keep a close eye on his minutes moving forward. His situation is an especially strong reminder that the circumstances surrounding a player can at times be as important to that player’s success as his abilities are, and that these circumstances can change in the blink of an eye.

The Phoenix Suns, for example, added guard Isaiah Thomas over the offseason, creating a trio of dynamic point guards. While the team looks to be benefiting from the move, fantasy owners are not. Goran Dragic is not playing any worse than last year, but his numbers are and will be down. If you own Dragic, it would be smart to see if you can get last year-level value for him in a trade. Thomas and Eric Bledsoe have seen a similarly expected numbers drop. It’s important to note that none of the three are bad options even as currently constructed, but owners need to keep their value (and expectations) in perspective.

Frigid Starts (Buy Low)

Several players already present an excellent buy-low opportunity. A couple rough weeks to start the season can be just enough to make an impatient owner worry about their investment. The most obvious buy-low candidate thus far is Andre Drummond, who is almost certain to return to last year’s form at the very least. His field-goal percentage currently sits 20 percentage points lower than the last two seasons, which is a strong sign of an impending rise. He’ll never hit his free throws, but this is without a doubt the time to make a move to acquire the big man. If you already own him, don’t panic and stick with him.

If commissioner Adam Silver is even making snide remarks about the Knicks, you know trouble is brewing. Carmelo Anthony probably should have gone to the Chicago Bulls if he wanted to win a Championship, but he stayed in New York and was nevertheless projected to continue to put up elite numbers. As it stands, Melo is off to the slowest start of his career as he learns a new system and familiarizes himself with new teammates. This won’t last, but owners will have to wait it out and deal with lower numbers than usual across the board for the time being.

When he has been on the court this season, Derrick Rose has definitely passed the eye test and showed flashes of being as explosive and quick as ever before. His value has taken a slight hit so far due to a couple minor ankle sprains, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Rose at a truly elite level by mid-season and for the fantasy playoffs. Try and pounce on him in your league and see if his owner is feeling overly nervous about Rose’s missed time and past. It is possible he could be had for a price you can live with. Sometimes, you really do need to take a risk to take a title, and in this case Rose might not be as much of an injury risk as it seems. If you drafted him, stick with him.

Oklahoma City is in a difficult spot with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sidelined, and it has led to a somewhat slow start for Serge Ibaka. On one unexpected hand, Ibaka is lighting it up from three-point land, attempting over 4 per game and hitting 40 percent (compared to just 0.7 attempts per game the last two years). This is an impressive attempt to fill an offensive void, but it has actually hurt his overall field-goal percentage and the defensive statistics he was probably drafted for. It’s hard to believe that his rebounding rate and the blocked shots won’t get back to normal soon, but owners should keep this new Serge’s style in mind when managing their lineups.

Fool’s Gold

Darren Collison, the Sacramento Kings’ new starting point guard, is off to a red-hot start, but sometimes an ugly duckling doesn’t become a swan after five seasons. OK, maybe ugly duckling is a little harsh; Collison has always been a solid point guard, but that’s all that should be expected from him moving forward. If you have been the lucky benefactor of Collison’s increased numbers across the board, and aren’t a die-hard Kings fan, now is the perfect time to sell high.

Collison is just one of many players across the NBA who will tease fantasy owners with an explosive start, making them completely forget how early it is in the season. Brandon Knight has taken the reigns in Milwaukee under the guide of Jason Kidd, but if you are planning on counting on him to retain his current averages, you might end up disappointed. While Knight’s improvement is not a fluke, the rate of ascension seems too good to be true and he is bound to have some ups and downs as he continues to learn the game.

Remarkably, Tony Wroten is putting up fantastic stats so far, averaging over 21.9 ppg on 44.1 percent shooting, to go along with over 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game. The downside with Wroten has been his 63 percent at the charity stripe and an abysmal 4 turnovers per game. His value is nevertheless certainly at its apex. With Michael Carter-Williams returning, Wroten will be handling the ball a lot less and is guaranteed to see a drop in production. Try and sell high, and if you can’t get a return you are happy with, keep him on the bench as a backup.

Back on Track

Roy Hibbert was an obvious draft day value this season after suffering through the worst stretch of his career last season. Appearing both physically and mentally drained, Hibbert shouldered a lot of the blame for the Pacers’ late-season collapse. Whatever the problems were, previous seasons indicated a certain comeback to the norm, and that’s what we have witnessed so far. If you can find a way to acquire him from somebody fearing another Hibbert collapse, do it. It’s not going to happen this year.

Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders had a disastrous year, but there are clear indications that he is on track to return to the form that earned him a four-year, $44 million contract. His per-minute averages for blocks and rebounds are back up, and Sanders is a great piece for any fantasy owner, especially for those who drafted him in the late rounds this year and are feeling pretty smart right now.

Rookie Meter

There hasn’t been much to talk about from a fantasy perspective when it comes to the new rookie class. Nerlens Noel has impressed and is going to surpass his average draft position as he gains momentum. He has a leash as long as the Great Wall of China for the rebuilding Sixers, and is a great source of blocked shots. Jabari Parker seems to be worthy as a bench option on fantasy rosters, but his inconsistency and Jason Kidd’s minutes distribution for the Bucks will make him a risky play at times

Up in Minnesota, Andrew Wiggins has struggled to adapt to the NBA. While he remains very valuable in keeper leagues, you shouldn’t expect him to provide much value at all this season. Of more interest in Minnesota right now is Zach LaVine, who has been thrust into the spotlight and could be a useful play at times, at least until Ricky Rubio returns from his injury. His potential is additionally appetizing in all keeper leagues.

Quick Bits

Anthony Davis has reached elite status with emphasis, DeMarcus Cousins still doesn’t have a technical foul, Pau Gasol is rejuvenated in Chicago while Carlos Boozer is definitely not with the Lakers. Chris Bosh is reminding us all that he sacrificed a TON for Miami the last four seasons, Lance Stephenson is redefining the term “shooting” guard, Kobe Bryant is showing people that he can actually attempt even more shots than what was previously thought, and Kyle Korver is, in the immortal words of Marv Albert, on fire. It’s going to be a long and sensational season, and hopefully you’re in it for the long haul with a fantasy basketball championship on the horizon.

For advice on your fantasy team, post questions in the comments section.

Philadelphia Sixers guard Michael Carter-Williams is still recovering from an offseason right shoulder operation, and won’t be a full participant once training camp opens. Tony Wroten will run the show

Tony Wroten will run the show in MCW’s absence during the preseason. On the bright side, however, Sixers head coach Brett Brown says that the thin second-year guard has put on about 12 pounds of muscle mass. Per the Philly Daily News:

MCW will not be a full participant at training camp as he still recovers from shoulder surgery. Brett Brown is happy where MCW is tho.

If not for the ageless Jamal Crawford, Sixers guard Tony Wroten might be the Seattle Pro-Am’s most exciting player. The summer, the Seattle native brought out a devastating shammgod crossover, an acrobatic 360 layup, countless over-the-shoulder dimes and even posted up a 53-point performance.

LA Clippers teammates Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford put on a show at the Seattle Pro-Am Friday night. Shouts to Crawford’s wife Tori Lucas, as the midnight pickup run took place hours before their wedding.

Philadelphia Sixers guard Tony Wroten broke off yet another unsuspecting defender in a summer time run, busting out his own version of the infamous Shamgod crossover for an easy layup. Save this move for the NBA, Tony.

Philadelphia Sixers guard dropped a cool 53 points in his Seattle Pro Am debut over the weekend. No bucket was sweeter than the one above, in which he destroyed a defender’s ankles with one of the grossest Shamgod crossovers you’ll ever witness.

Tony Wroten doesn’t hesitate when asked to rank himself among NBA players with sneaker sense. “In the League? No. 1. It’s not even a question, 1.”

With an on-court résumé that would make rare Air collectors drool, the second-year Philadelphia 76ers guard is certainly stating his case this season. Having worn Pippens, Pennys, Foamposites, KDs, Spizikes, Uptempos and nearly every Air Jordan from III to XIX, Wroten is turning heads and turning up the comp for best kicks superlatives. (Dude wears his kicks until they explode—literally.)

“If I see the next person wearing something, I’m like, Man, he’s got shoe game, I’ve got to step my game up,” he says. “If I could, I would wear 82 different shoes.” He damn near has, wearing everything from the Space Jam Jordan XI to the Zoom Flight The Glove to the Squadron Blue Jordan XIII. But Wroten, a sneak freak since his AAU days, says it’s nothing new for him.

“Going to Washington, while a lot of people on the East Coast didn’t see it because they were asleep when we played at night, I was doing this back in college and high school,” explains the Seattle native. If you did stay up late, though, you saw the Huskies star break out mostly Barkleys and Jordans, like the He Got Game Jordan XIIIs.

After a tumultuous rookie season in Memphis, Wroten has settled into the Sixers’ rotation (13.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.8 apg in 24 mpg) and finally has a proper platform to showcase his collection. He scored 14 off the bench as the Sixers opened their ’13-14 season with a 114-110 upset at home against the two-time defending champs. On his feet that night? A one-of-a-kind pair of Air Jordan XII “Sixers” PEs designed by customs king Mache—Wroten’s favorite on-court sneaker so far this season.

A few days later, he laced up the Raging Bull Jordan Vs, which he counts among his top-five favorite Js of all time, along with the Cool Grey XIs, Playoff XIIs, Thunder IVs and all-red Jordan XXIs. That same month, he became the only player in history to record a triple-double in his first NBA start, wearing the AJ XI Silver Anniversary. “I’m a strong believer in, ‘If you look good, you play good,’” Wroten says before a December bout in Brooklyn, for which he’s procured a decade-old pair of the Nike Air Foamposite Pro Varsity Red. No disagreement here.

Check out a gallery of the best kicks from Wroten’s career above. Photos via Getty Images/@twroten8_loe.

“It was more embarrassing than anything,” Wroten said Wednesday. “But things happen. I got an apology from Jordan. Yeah. … He called my agent.”

Wroten, who is known around the NBA for his vast shoe collection, made highlight reels for the wrong reason when the sole tore off the Air Jordan 10 “varsity red” sneaker on his right foot during a fourth-quarter drive to the basket. The shoes were first released in 2005.

It was the third time in about two weeks an NBA player’s Nike shoes fell apart during a game, after Manu Ginobili and Andrew Bogut also experienced issues with their kicks.

Last night, Kevin Durant debuted the Nike KD VI in black, orange and red; LeBron James laced up PEs of both the Nike LeBron XI and Nike Zoom Soldier VII; and D-Wade came correct with the Li-Ning Way of Wade 2 “Year of the Horse”. We collected photos of that heat and more in our gallery of the best sneakers from around the League. Which player’s shoe game did you like the most from last night?

Last night, Terrence Ross laced up with Air Jordan 10 “Doernbecher” in Brooklyn; Tony Wroten rocked a “Volt” colorway of the Gloves; and PJ Tucker turned heads in his Nike HyperRev PE. We collected photos of that heat and more in our gallery of the best sneakers from around the League. Which player’s shoe game did you like the most from last night?

Over the weekend, Amir Johnson laced up the ultra exclusive Air Jordan XII OVO while rocking a camo jersey; Rajon Rondo made his season debut while debuting the ANTA Rondo 1; and Tony Wroten rocked the Air Jordan XX1. We collected photos of that heat and more in our gallery of the best sneakers from around the League. Which player’s shoe game did you like the most from over the weekend?

The Sixers won their third straight game last night, somehow defeating the Chicago Bulls and deflating the hopes of some Philly fans who want nothing more than decent Lottery positioning. Here’s the game best highlight, in which Tony Wroten rejected a streaking Derrick Rose.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Tony Wroten has been sent to Philly by the Memphis Grizzlies, in exchange for a future draft pick: “Memphis has traded guard Tony Wroten to the 76ers for a future second round pick, league source says.”

Check out highlights from last night’s game between Jamal Crawford’s Wolverines and Isaiah Thomas and Tony Wroten’s Hoyas at the Seattle Pro-Am. Thomas and Wroten combined for 75 points, and Crawford finished with 29.

Four NBA players — Spencer Hawes, Quincy Pondexter, Tony Wroten and Isaiah Thomas — have each been slapped with $15,000 fines for hooping in an “unsanctioned” June 23 University of Washington alumni game at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. Per Yahoo! Sports: “It wasn’t immediately known if several other former Washington Huskies involved in the game, including Chicago Bulls free-agent guard Nate Robinson and Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross, were subject to the fines. Washington coach Lorenzo Romar organized the game. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement mandates that players can’t play in public offseason games prior to July 1 or after Sept. 15 without league approval.”

Jaw-dropping. Flashy. Confident. Unrelenting. All of these adjectives describe Tony Wroten Jrʼs game, but it is a lone verb that may best describe Tony Wroten Jr, the man: misunderstood.

People look at the 18-year-old University of Washington freshman and they see an uber-talented, high profile, man-child. His long, 6-5 frame casts shadows over other point guards. His tattoo riddled arms and deep, slow voice make you feel like you are in the presence of a seasoned adult, not a kid who recently took the SAT.

From the minute he begins talking it is evident there is more to him than people realize. On the surface he has a smile that could sell ice to an Eskimo, but deep down, in places only he can see, there burns a fire for the game. A passion that pumps throughout his veins and is never too far from his mind.

“Basketball is a way life for me,” Wroten said. “It keeps me out of trouble. It keeps me focused. Itʼs my way out and the way I am going to feed my family.”

On the court there is no doubting what makes Wroten so special. His vision is something that should be portrayed in a Marvel comic book. His no-look passes could leave Mark Jackson and Steve Nash shaking their heads in disbelief. When it looks like nothing is there, he finds something. His combination of size and speed makes getting to the rim as easy as lacing up his Jordans. The energy and flare that go along with his game are like nothing the nation has seen in a long time.

Jesus Shuttlesworth said it best: “Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back right, heʼs fallinʼ back, then just J right in his face. Then you look at him and say, What?”

Wroten is a poet of the pass, and by no means is he afraid to say, “What?” If he leaves a defender on the perimeter or throws a Houdini pass, he will be the first one to let you know. His emotions are raw, uncut and most of all—they are real.

“He brings a swagger to a team that I have seen in very, very few players,” his high school coach Ed Haskins said. “I have had the good fortune to coach some pretty special players, but he brings a definite swagger and confidence like no other.”

Wroten wears those emotions proudly for the nation to see, never wavering from who has always been on the court—a complete monster.

“When heʼs on the court that isnʼt the real Tony Wroten,” best friend and current Central Arizona point guard Glenn Brooks said. “That is the monster. That is the guy he has to be. He has to go play that way.”

That monster may serve Wroten well on the court, but the confidence that coaches covet and adore has been perceived as arrogance and selfishness from those who donʼt know him.

“Tony is one of the most misunderstood kids that plays the game,” Haskins said. “The media put him in the spotlight. Itʼs like heʼs supposed to have this open book of a life and be a perfect kid, and heʼs not. No kid is perfect.”

Wroten has been in the spotlight since he was rated the No.1 middle schooler in the nation by numerous outlets. By the time he entered his freshman year at Seattleʼs Garfield High School, he was a full blown star. College coaches were showing up at practices before he had even played a game. A documentary was being made about him and he was holding down the top spot for the Class of 2011.

All the attention led to an examination of not only Wrotenʼs every dribble, but his every breath. That passion, ferociousness and swagger he displayed was interpreted as him being a prima donna. The lovable, laid back, funny side of Wroten was buried beneath the harsh criticism from people who had never even spoken to him.

“He kind of missed out on a normal childhood,” Brooks said. “He had no privacy. Every time he went out people were wanting something from him.”

“The thing with growing up in the spotlight and being so criticized is you feel you have to be perfect,” Wroten said. “If I get in trouble itʼs 10 times worse than a [normal] kid getting in trouble. I started to realize you canʼt be liked by everybody.”

That realization came in Wrotenʼs sophomore year, he tore his ACL playing football. Suddenly, the rankings fell, some coaches stopped calling and friends disappeared. For the first time in his life he couldnʼt satisfy his hunger for the game he loved. For the first time in his life his name disappeared from recruiting blogs and websites. For the first time in his life, Tony Wroten Jr was normal.

During his recovery time, Wroten saw people fade from his life that he thought he could trust. People he thought he could count on turned their backs on him the second the promise of dollar signs was wheeled into surgery. To him, loyalty is everything and in order to create a strong supporting cast, Wroten and his close-knit group of supporters began calling themselves L.O.E., or Loyalty Over Everything.

“L.O.E. started because the people I thought were my friends werenʼt comforting me or protecting me,” Wroten said. “ My L.O.E. family has been the biggest support for me. They know what I am capable of and they wonʼt let me get away with anything.”

“Itʼs not a clique or a gang,” Haskins said. “Rather it is their support system they have for each other.”

That support system consists of God, childhood friends and most importantly, family.

“Family is a big part of it all,” Wroten said. “My family wasnʼt the perfect family growing up. There were some droughts and some things going on where I was the big hope to the family to make it out. I got a big family and I care about being loyal to them.”

Wrotenʼs family is not only big, it is laced with athletic ability. Wrotenʼs father, Tony Wroten Sr, played tight end at UW. His mother, Shirley, ran track for UW and Arizona State. His aunt, Joyce Walker, is a former Harlem Globtrotter and his cousin is NBA point guard Nate Robinson.

God also plays a large role in Wrotenʼs life. He credits God for all of his talents and believes that all the fame and fortune he is in line to receive couldnʼt and wonʼt be possible without the watchful eye of a higher power.

“I wouldnʼt be here if it wasnʼt for God,” Wroten said. “Any time anything good or bad happens, I take two steps back and keep my head high because I know God is testing me.”

There is a certain mysteriousness that looms around Wroten to the outside world. He is guarded, almost as if he has tasted pain and betrayal before, and never wants to taste it again. As odd as it sounds, watching Wroten grow up in the spotlight has left more questions unanswered then answered.

Is he a thug? Does he even care about his teammates? Why canʼt he just play the game the right way?

To answer these questions you have to turn the spotlight down, look past the smooth handles, crafty passes and competitive nature and ask—who is the real Tony Wroten Jr?

“I am misunderstood,” Wroten said. “The people around me know I am not arrogant or cocky. I just play with that [raw] emotion. Other people see a lot of passion and emotion on the court and they [take it the wrong way]. I am showing passion for the sport I love. I am very humble and laid back.”

Brooks reiterates his best friendʼs desire to be the best at all costs.

“The real Tony Wroten is a lovable guy,” he said. “He is a big kid. Most people donʼt get to see that side of him. He comes off cocky. People say a lot of negative things about him even though they donʼt know him. Heʼs got swagger and an edge to him that not a lot of young players have. He might be a little rough, but when you are that good and trying to compare to the greats, you have to have that edge.”

For now, Wroten says the NBA is nowhere near his mind. His focus is on getting better with his teammates every day and trying to win a National Championship.

The transformation from kid to man is not yet complete. There are lessons to be learned and obstacles to overcome. While his game and size has NBA GMs salivating, he still has a long path to travel on his way to basketball glory. There should be no more whispers about who Wroten is or why he plays the way he does. His kill-or-be-killed mentality should be embraced rather than scorned.

He truly is poetry in motion, and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. The real Tony Wroten Jr has been standing in front of us the entire time.

If it’s early April, that means it must be about that time again. Time to see how the USA stacks up against the rest of the World out on the basketball court.

For high school hoops fans, avid and recreational alike, the Rose Garden figures to be the place to be this weekend considering the 2011 Junior National Select Team will be taking on the World Select Team at the 14th annual Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, OR.

Make no mistake, Team USA will be tested from start to finish.

The World Select Team is absolutely loaded with talent. And some of the names you might have heard of, Kentucky-bound Kyle Wiltjer for one. The Canadian plays his high school ball at Jesuit in nearby Portland, OR and is one of the more high-profile players around.

Another concern for Team USA is Kevin Pangos, also a Canadian who is heading to Gonzaga, where he’ll play point guard for the Bulldogs. Lastly, a pair of 7-footers, Brazilian Lucas Riva Noguiera and Przemyslaw Karnowski from Poland, could also cause problems.

That said, let’s take a look at the roster for Team USA.

Austin Rivers | 6-3 | G | Winter Park (FL) | 2011

Son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, this kid continues to emerge from the shadows of his famous father to forge his own identity. The younger Rivers does it all, just about whenever he wants, mind you. His jumper extends well beyond the three-point arc. Putting the ball on the floor isn’t a problem either. Rivers, heading to Duke, rebounds, distributes and defends too.

Brad Beal | 6-3 | G | Chaminade Prep (MO) | 2011

Leave him open out on the perimeter, and chances are Beal will make you pay each and every time for the mistake. Rest assured, the World Select Team is well aware of this sharpshooter heading to Florida. Beal, however, is not a selfish player. If the defense is cheating, he is savvy enough to find the open man underneath the basket. Big men love playing alongside him.

Rakeem Christmas | 6-9 | F | New Church Academy (MD) | 2011

His game is East Coast, no doubt. He will fit in well once he arrives on campus over at Syracuse. In the meantime, Christmas has some unfinished business to attend to, and in all likeliness, that business will take place down in the low block, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. He goes after rebounds with reckless abandon and challenges every shot in his in his vicinity.

Anthony Davis | 6-10 | F | Perspectives Charter (IL) | 2011

Right around this time last year, Davis was not considered as one of the country’s premier players. Far from it, in fact. Fast forward to present day though, and he’s the talk of the town, one of the nation’s top prospects heading to Kentucky on a scholarship. Davis will provide a post presence for Team USA so expect to see him get the ball early and often against the World Select Team.

Michael Gilchrist | 6-7 | F | St. Patrick (NJ) | 2011

Most consider him as the nation’s top player. And for all intents and purposes, the distinction is worthy. Gilchrist does a little bit of everything, most of it well, better than his peers. His offensive skill set is polished, both inside and out. When it comes to his mentality, he is relentless as they come. His desire is to be the best at all times and it wouldn’t surprise us if he is against the World Select Team and ends up shining on one of the biggest stages around. Then, it’s off to Kentucky.

James McAdoo | 6-7 | F | Norfolk Christian (VA) | 2011

When talking about players who are fundamentally sound, McAdoo’s name comes to mind. He knows how to play within an offensive set and is equally adept at getting and running in the transition game. Best part about is, the North Carolina commit gives maximum effort on defense as well. The World Select Team figures to have its hand full with McAdoo, just watch.

Marquis Teague | 6-2 | G | Pike (IN) | 2011

Figures to have the ball in his hands quite a bit. And rightfully so, considering he’s one of the top point guards in the nation. Expect him to spell Rivers, at times, perhaps even play alongside his fellow floor general to give Team USA a dynamic backcourt tandem that could end up giving the World Select Team plenty of fits. Teague will be playing his college ball at Kentucky.

Tony Wroten | 6-5 | G | Garfield (WA) | 2011

This kid has the mentality of a power forward wrapped up in the body of a wing. He loves contact — he lives for it — which makes him difficult to deal with once he sets his mind on taking the ball to the basket. Don’t be surprised to see him create a match-up problem and run the show for Team USA from time to time. Wroten will stay close to home and play college ball at Washington.

Adonis Thomas | 6-6 | F | Bishop Melrose (TN) | 2011

He’s in an intriguing prospect because Thomas possess the ideal size to play small forward but lacks in stature to play power forward. Nevertheless, he brings plenty to the table, specifically speaking, quickness and athleticism. Those are things you just can’t teach. Thomas, who committed to Memphis is what you call a glue guy, the type of player every team needs.

Quinn Cook | 6-1 | G | Oak Hill Academy (VA) | 2011

With Rivers and Teague in the mix, it might appear as if Cook is the odd man out. That, however, is not necessarily the case. He will be relied on to shut down the point guard for the World Select Team and could end up switching over to harass the shooting guard, at times. Cook won’t hurt Team USA on the offensive end either. The Duke-bound guard can score with the best of them.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Jan. 16, 2011) – Featuring four, two-time gold medalists and eight gold medal winners overall, USA Basketball today announced the 10 players and coaching staff for the 2011 USA Junior National Select Team, which will compete against the World Select Team in the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit at 7:00 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday, April 9 at the Rose Garden in Portland Oregon.

The Nike Hoop Summit, the country’s premier annual basketball game for high-school age boys, features America’s elite, young athletes playing against a World Select Team comprised of top international players 19-years-old or younger.

Leading the way for the USA will be four players who helped the USA to gold at both the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, including 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship MVP Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep/St. Louis, Mo.), Quinn Cook (Oak Hill Academy/Bowie, Md.), James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian/ Norfolk, Va.) and Adonis Thomas (Melrose H.S./Cordova, Tenn.).

Rounding out the roster are USA Basketball newcomers Rakeem Christmas (Academy of the New Church/Philadelphia, Pa.) and Anthony Davis (Perspectives Charter/Chicago, Ill.).

The USA will be led by Kevin Sutton, who is in his eighth season as head coach at Montverde Academy in Florida. Sutton has three times served as a USA assistant coach, including the 2009 USA U16 and 2010 USA U17 national teams. He owns a 15-3 record (.833 winning percentage) with the red, white and blue.

“I’m truly honored,” Sutton said. “I’ve been associated with USA Basketball for several years now. My most recent tenure was over the last two years with the U16 and U17 teams, so I’m very familiar with the players that have been selected for this team. USA Basketball really has strengthened the developmental program, and having several players back from those teams will enable us to build upon a camaraderie that’s already been established.

“I have watched past Nike Hoop Summits and I’ve seen a lot of international basketball the past few summers, and that has enabled me to be more of a student of the game,” Sutton continued. “I know that the game will feature a tremendous amount of talent, and it will be very competitive.”

Sutton will be assisted by first-time USA coach Kevin Boyle, who is in his 22nd season as head coach at St. Patrick High School (N.J.), where he currently features USA team member Gilchrist on his roster.

Tickets for the 14th annual Nike Hoop Summit are now on sale, with reserved courtside seats priced $25 and $50 and all other general admission tickets $6 in advance and $10 on game day. Tickets can be purchased through the Rose Quarter Ticket Office, by calling 877-789-ROSE (7673) or by visiting www.rosequarter.com. Additionally, the game will be broadcast nationally by Fox Sports Net and its regional affiliates.

Wroten, who checks in at No. 14 in the high school senior class, had a busy summer. The Seattle native won gold at the U17 Nationals last month and showed out at a handful of summer camps. The big, strong lead guard also is as much of a beast on Twitter as he is on the court. Currently uncommitted, Wroten basks in the recruiting process. As Jeff Goodman notes, the 6-5 PG “has all the tools to be one of the elite players in the country, but he can be difficult to watch because he plays as if he knows all of that.”

HARLEM–What the third annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 lacked in star power it made up in actual defensive intensity and one-upsmanship.

As opposed to last year’s dunkfest, when ballers were doing the cha-cha slide to the tin, these players actually wanted to play a little defense. Sure, Team Skip To My Lou’s 135-121 win over Team G.O.A.T. may suggest otherwise but when you consider that the halftime score was a low-scoring 62-56 G.O.A.T. advantage, for an all-star game that’s the equivalent of a Pistons-Spurs game.

Although there wasn’t a magnetic Brandon Jennings-type in personality and flair on the court, the standing room only crowd was putty in the hands of its current “it” player, Lance Stephenson. The Brooklyn native and Lincoln High star, aka “Born Ready”, had the crowd in his hand from tip-off. Stephenson, who was nursing a groin injury, started out slow looking to set up his G.O.A.T. teammates. It was only after his body seemed to warm up Stephenson looked to be more aggressive, as he only took one shot in the first three minutes. Or perhaps it was the presence of John Wall. The 6’2 phenom from Word of God in Raleigh, who has come out of nowhere this past year—a la a Tracy McGrady back in the day—took immediate control of the game and captivated the partisan G.O.A.T. crowd. Wall’s slick ball-handling, unreal quickness, and shooting range seemed to goad Stephenson out of his shell because after Wall opened the game with a lob dunk, Lance couldn’t resist and let fly a 30-footer with St. Anthony star Dominic Cheek draped all over him. A fired up Stephenson let out a yell and milked the “YEAHHHHH”s from the crowd but settled back into playmaker role soon after.

While on the bench, Stephenson could be heard encouraging his teammates to move without the ball and showed maturity as a team leader.

“These past years I was always a leader, I thought,” he explained. “It’s just this year I’m a senior and feel I should now be better at being more vocal,” said Stephenson, who scored a game-high 29 points en route to co-MVP honors.

But as all great competitors, Stephenson wanted to show why he’s roundly considered the top senior baller – and the crowd favorite. Near the end of the first half, Stephenson found himself singled up by Tony Wroten, Jr. The super soph was getting physical with Stephenson throughout the first half, so when he had the chance Lance waved off his teammates for an iso, momentarily relished in the “YEAHHHHH”’s, and battled Seattle’s finest. Wroten, despite his youthfulness, wasn’t intimidated and gave what he got in the form of bumps and push-offs. Although, neither scored on the other, the chirping escalated and the crowd was frenetic. And the tone was set for the final half.

“He came at me early,” said Stephenson of Wroten. “Clutching, elbowing, and pushing. I was like ‘we don’t gotta do it like this.’ I didn’t want it to get confrontational, so I was like ‘be easy.’ He’s a talent, though. And a lot of guys wanted to come in here and make a name.”

Indeed the defense picked up but there was just too much offensive talent to be stifled. Other than Stephenson and Wall, fellow co-MVPs Cheek and Maalik “So Unique” Wayns also put on a show. When a hobbled Stephenson took himself out of the game at the 7:38 mark, it was Wayns who picked up the slack, teaming with Rice sensation Durand Scott on multiple backdoor layups and lobs to stave off a mad third quarter rush by STML. It wasn’t until midway through the fourth quarter did STML overtake G.O.A.T. and pull away, led by a personal 6-0 run by Wall, who was determined to come in and not be overshadowed by Lance. Wall only had 10 points but they were 10 of the most spectacular points of the night, including a thunderous left baseline “kiss the rim” left-handed flush that looked way too easy for a 6’2 guard to pull off. It shocked all but the perpetrator, however.

“Yeah, I wanted to come here and make my name,” said Wall. “After that dunk I heard people roaring and gasping like they were saying ‘how’d he do that?’ But I’ve worked hard at this…I remember last year looking at the rankings and seeing my name barely in the Top 100. I went to coach and said, ‘help me get better. What do I need to get better?’ And since then I’ve worked hard and now here I am.”

-Wroten, who became the first freshman to make Washington’s First Team All-State, is a cousin of Knicks sparkplug Nate Robinson. Think about Wroten’s achievement: Nate, Jamal Crawford, Brandon Roy, et. al., and none of them ever did that.

-STML bigs Derrick Favors of South Atlanta had 16 points and seven rebounds, while Washington’s Josh Smith logged the game’s only double-double with 11 points and 11 boards.

-Wall, who added six assists, is still undecided but is considering Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, and Baylor…no, really.

-LaQuinton Ross is no joke. He and Wall are gonna be bananas together at Word of God. Ross is so good at such a young age and it was announced that he once hung 30 points on Golden State Warriors star Monta Ellis, who’s five years his senior.

-Stephenson, who was listed in the media guide at 200 pounds is certainly not anymore. He’s so much thicker and stronger up top, that I joked with his mom, Bernadette, that he could be a power forward soon. “Yeah, he’s getting a lil’ too big,” she said. “Lance can put it away. I’mma work with him on that,” she smiled.